We and our trusted partners use technology such as cookies on our site to personalize content and ads, provide social media features, and analyze our traffic. You can read more about it and change your preferences here.

Internet Is Applauding The Genius Way These Activists Troll Russia’s Anti-Gay Laws

In Russia, homosexuality is technically decriminalized but people who form “non-traditional” relationships have it pretty hard there. For example, in 2013 the country passed a law banning the spreading of “gay propaganda” among minors, which the European Court of Human Rights ruled was discriminatory and encouraged homophobia. During the 2018 FIFA World Cup, however, a group of LGBT activists managed to undermine the law in a particularly genius way.

Organizing a project called #HiddenFlag they smuggled in a Pride flag into the country and paraded it right in the center of its capital, Moscow. “We have taken advantage of the fact the country is hosting the World Cup at the same time as Pride Month, to denounce their behavior and take the rainbow flag to the streets of Russia,” they write. “Yes, in the plain light of day, in front of the Russian authorities, Russian society and the whole world, we wave the flag with pride.”

Six people from six countries (Spain, The Netherlands, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and Colombia) dressed in jerseys that together formed the iconic flag, and their photos instantly went viral all over the internet. Scroll down to check out the images and tell us what you think about the initiative in the comments.

What do you think ?

I'm Russian and I doubt that wearing LGBT flag colors is widely recognized as LGBT promotion here. It's unlikely that all Russian adults, let alone kids and teens, associate rainbow with LGBT. In fact, there's another color traditionally associated with gays at least - light blue - and even that is 100% legal. I see many people wearing rainbow colored clothes freely, especially in summertime, without inflicting any harm upon themselves.

I'm Russian and I doubt that wearing LGBT flag colors is widely recognized as LGBT promotion here. It's unlikely that all Russian adults, let alone kids and teens, associate rainbow with LGBT. In fact, there's another color traditionally associated with gays at least - light blue - and even that is 100% legal. I see many people wearing rainbow colored clothes freely, especially in summertime, without inflicting any harm upon themselves.